Timeless by Design: Reinterpreting Everyday Objects through Emotion and Culture

Workshop Description

Why do some objects endure across generations while others fade away? This workshop explores this fundamental question in design. By using the Emotionally Sustainable Design (ESD) toolbox, participants will investigate how emotional attachment, meaning, and cultural context contribute to a product’s longevity.

Using the Indonesian traditional kitchen object “ulek & cobek” (mortar and pestle in Indonesia) as a central case study, the workshop examines how everyday artifacts can embody rituals, memories, and cultural identity. Participants will apply the ESD toolbox to identify key emotional and experiential factors that support long-term user relationships with products.

Participants will then engage in a hands-on reinterpretation process, redesigning ulek & cobek within the German context. This process encourages the translation of emotional values and cultural narratives into new forms, materials, and use scenarios.

The workshop culminates in the creation of a design catalog that documents each participant’s design journey from analysis and insight generation to concept development. This output not only reflects individual interpretations but also proposes future design directions rooted in emotional durability and cultural relevance.

Educational Goal

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Understand the role of emotional and cultural values in shaping timeless design.
Identify key factors of product longevity using the ESD toolbox.
Analyze and reinterpret traditional artifacts through emotion-driven design approaches.
Translate insights into innovative design concepts within a new local context.
Communicate design processes and outcomes through a structured and visually compelling design catalog.

Requirements

basic knowledge of design process (e.g., ideation, prototyping, or user-centered design) could be helpful, but is not necessary

Where is it located?

H 0.22